Time lamp-lighting mechanism.



M. W.v LEWIS.

TIME LAMP LIGHTING MECHANISM. APPLIoATIoN FILED Nov.a,19o4.

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QM I W E L W M.

TIME LAMP LIGHTING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8,1904.

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UNITED sTATEs'PATENT OFFICE.

MARVIN W. LEWIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY -MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOCONSOLIDATED LIGHTING CO., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY.

TIME LAMP-LIGHTING MECHANISM.

Specification oi' Letters Patent.

Patented .rune 3o, 190s.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, MARVIN W. Lewis, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time Lamp-Lighting Mechanism, of which the following is a speciiication, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to improvements in lamp regulating mechanism, andparticularlyto lamp regulating mechanism for automatically timing theigniting and extinguishing of gas lamps.

The object of the invention is to provide means to open and close asuitable valve in the passage communicating with the source of gassupply and also to provide means for timing the o eration 'of saidvalve, which means shall a ways be reliable, that is shall always causethe valve to be operated exactly at the predetermined time.I-Ieretofore, in some mechanisms of this sort, the power for setting orotherwise operating the gas supply valve has been transmitted throughthe timing mechanism. This has resulted invariably in retarding thismechanism to such an extent as to render it absolutely unreliable so faras the proper timing of the valve is concerned. In accordance with thepresent invention this retardation is overcome by providing meanswhereby the motor which supplies the power for setting or otherwiseoperating the valve shall supply this power directly to the valve, thatis without transmitting such power through the timing mechanism.

The inventionalso includes means for accomplishing various other objectshereinafter set forth. o

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of theimproved mechanism and a portion of the lamp, the valve and casing beingshown in section. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the valve openingmechanism. Fig.. 3 is a detail view in section of a portion of saidopening mechanism. Fig. 4L is a view in front elevation of the mechanismwith the time adjusting and tripping device removed. Fig. 5 represents ahorizontal view of the mechanism, the case being in section.

Referring to the drawings, the lamp, which is only partly shown, isprovided with a main burner 1 and an incandescent mantle 2, this burnerhaving the usual mixing chamber 3 with inlet holes to admit the air.Preferably the gas is ignited by a secondary burner or pilot light 4which burns during the period that the main light is extinguished and isarranged within or adjacent to the main burner, so that the gas from themain burner can be ignited therefrom. Both burners are of the usualconstruction and communicate with the main supply pipe 5 through `asuitable passage 6 having a valve provided therein. Said valve comprisesessentially, a small quantity of mercury or other liquid seal, whichforms the valve seat, and a suitable valve plug 7 having verticalmovement with relation thereto. Preferably mercury is used, and it iscontained in any suitable reservoir S, which may, if preferred, beformed integral with the casing 9 of the regulating mechanismhereinafter to be described. The valve plug 7 has two concentricflanges, thus forming practically an inner and outer chamber. The outeriiange 11 is longer than the inner one 12 and is adapted to remainpermanently submerged in the mercury, whereas the inner flange isadapted to be either raised or submerged by the movement of the flange.The outer chamber communicates With the main burner through a passage 13and the inner chamber communicates with the secondary burner or pilotlight through the passage 14. This passage is provided with a secondaryvalve 15, so constructed that the passage will be opened when the valveplug is lowered and closed when it is raised. The gas from the mainsource of supply is iirst admitted to the inner chamber and is thuscaused to pass through the secondary valve into the pilot light when thevalve plug is in its lowered or closed position and to pass between themercury and the inner flange into the passage leading to the main burnerwhen the plug is in its raised or opened position. Suitable thumb screws16 may be provided in the passages both to the main and the secondaryburners to regulate the amount of gas passing therethrough.

The valve is automatically operated by suitable mechanism preferablycontained in a casing capable of being tightly closed so as to preventaccess of moisture thereto. A vertically movable member such as a rod17, extending through the top of the casing, operates against the lowerside of the valve to raise it, and in order that the valve may moveuniformly and without binding, said vertically movable member engagesthe valve centrally and so that it acts through the center of gravity ofthe same. A sleeve bearing 18 may be provided for the rod and a cap orflange 19 may also be provided to surround the sleeve and cover the endof the rod, said cap extending downward into the mercury and preventingthe escape of the gas through the bearing. The lower end of the rodengages a pivoted lever 20, which is normally held in its lowered ordownward position by a spring 22. The lever is raised or set against theaction of the spring from the main spring wheel or drum of a clock 23 orother motor, which may be of any well known or suitable constructionandtherefore need not be described. The main spring wheel 24 is providedwith a number of lugs 25 arranged at suitable intervals thereon. Arotatable segment 26 provided with a notch 27 secured upon the end of ashort shaft 28 which has a long bearing 29 carried by the front plate ofthe clock (Fig` 3). On the other end of the shaft is a spur 30, which isarranged in the path of the lugs 25 thus causing the segment to rotatewhen the spur engages with the lugs. A turnbler or guard segment 26/ isj ournaled upon the bearing 29 which corresponds in shape with thesegment 26 and said guard segment is provided with a notch 31corresponding with the notch 27 and adapted to register therewith whensaid segment and tumbler are in their down or lowermost positions, whichis determined by a stop 32. To the end of the lever 2O is pivoted a dog33 adapted to engage with the notch in the segment but having itsengaging face of sufficient width to cover both the segment and tumbler,so that it is prevented from entering the notch inthe segment 26 exceptwhen the notch in the tumbler registers therewith. Both the tumbler andsegment 26 return by gravity to their lowermost position when released,and if necessary a counterweight, as 34, may be provided for thispurpose.

After the lever 2O has been raised or set against the action of spring22 by the partial rotation of the segment which is effected by theclock, as heretofore l described, it is caught and held in that positionby a latch 35 pivoted as at 36. This latch is provided with the trip arm37, which, when engaged by the tripping mechanism presently to bereferred to releases the lever 2() which is then caused by the spring 22to raise the connecting rod 17, thereby opening the valve. The rod isimmediately caught and the valve held in its opened position by a detent38 which engages a notch 39 provided in the rod. Both the detent 38 andlatch 35 are tripped by means which is adjustable so that the time oftripping may be regulated, and

the length of time that the main burner may be lighted andv extinguishedthereby determined. Instead of the hands and dial upon the clock, thetiming mechanism has a disk 40 which rotates with the hand wheel of theclock. The circumference of the disk is provided with numerals from 1 to12 or 1 to 24 as desired, and the position of these numerals withrelation to a fixed mark 41 enables the time to be told. Two pointers 42are provided upon the disk and are adjustable thereon by means ofsuitable screws 43 and stationary nuts 47 which ride thereon. Thesehands or pointers are provided with pins 44 and 45 which project inwardthrough slots 46 arranged at unequal distances from the center of thedisk and are adjustable therein. Said pins are also of unequal length,so that one will engage with the latch 35, and the other with the detent38. Since the pointers are adjustable they can be arranged as desiredwith relation to the dial, thereby determining the length of time thatthe main valve shall remain in its opened and in its closed position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the operation of themechanism is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings, the gas will pass from the main supply pipethrough the inner chamber of the valve and the secondary valve to thepilot light. The valve being in its lowered or closed position the innerflange 12 enters the mercury or sealing liquid and prevents the escapeof the 190 gas to the main burner. Meanwhile the lever is held in itsraised or set position by the latch 35 until released by its trippingpin 44. As soon as released, the lever, under the action of the spring,raises or opens the valve which is caught and held in its openedposition by the detent 38. The raising of the valve closes the secondaryvalve 15 in the passage to the 'pilot light and opens the passage to themain burner which is lighted A11o before the pilot light isextinguished. As the lever is released the dog is returned to itslowermost position by'riding over the tumbler, if the segment should beraised by the clock, or over both tumbler and the segment if the latteris at rest, where it remains until both notches register, which can onlyoccur when the segments are in their lowermost position. The dog thenengages the segment and is raised to its set position by the next. 12osucceeding lug which happens to engage the spur 30. This arrangementrenders immaterial the number of lugs on the main spring wheel, or therate of rotation thereof, provided only that suflcient lugs be providedto insure the lever being in its set position prior to the tripping ofthe detent. This, as explained, is accomplished by the other of theadjustable pins, as 45, which engages with the depending arm of thedetent and disengages it from the connecting rod 17. The valve plugimmediatelydro s by gravity, thus shutting ofi' the gas to t e mainburner and opening the passage to the pilot light. Having thusaccomplished their' cycle the parts are again in the position shown inFig. 1 of the drawing. The opening mechanism for the valve, whichincludes the segments 26 and 26', the dog 33 and lever 20, it will beseen is operated directly from the main spring of the clock and notindirectly through the timing mechanism. For this reason, t ie clockwill not become irregular, and the lamp will always be operated at theproper times. i

In so 'far as the arrangement and construction of the valve and of thelevers and devices for setting the valve are concerned it will be clearthat the motor for the improved mechanism, which motor has beendescribed and shown herein as the main spring of an ordinary springclock, may be any kind of motor whatsoever, and, if desired, may beprovided independently of and entirely separate from the timingmechanism or clock. Thus, an electric or pendulum clock may be used, anadditional spring may be provided to set the valve, and, in fact, anyother arrangement may be employed provided only the power for setting orotherwise operating the valve is not transmitted through the timingmechanism.

Various other changes may be made in the improved mechanism withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim-A 1. The combination of a valve, operating means therefor, amotor, means to transmit power directly from the motor to actuate thevalve operating` means, and independent means operated by the motor totime the operation of the valve.

2. The combination of a valve, operating means therefor, a motor, meansto transmit power directly from the motor to set the valve operatingmeans in position for` operation, and independent means operated by themotor to time the operation of the valve.

3. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor', amotor, means comprising a lever to transmit power directly from themotor to set the valve operating means in position for operation, andindependent means operated by said motor to time the operation of thevalve.

4. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor, aclock, means to transmit power directly from the mainspring of the clockto actuate the valve operating means, and timing mechanism for the valveOperated through a train of gears from the mainspring of the clock.

5. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor, a clockprovided with timing mechanism, means to transmit power directly fromthe main-spring of the clock to actuate the valve operating means,independent means for holding the valve in its open position, andtripping mechanism for said valve operated by the timing mechanism oftheclock.

6. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor, a clockprovided with timing mechanism, means to transmit power directly fromthe mainspring of the clock to actuate the valve operating means, andtripping mechanism for said valve operating means actuated by the timingmechanism of the clock.

7. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor, a clockprovided with timing mechanism, means to transmit power directly fromthe mainspring ofthe clock to set the valve operating means in positionfor operation, tripping mechanism for the valve operating means, andtripping mechanism for the valve, both tripping mechanisms beingoperated by the timing mechanism of the clock. 4

8. A combination of a lamp, a valve, a clock provided with a main-springand timing mechanism, a main-spring wheel in said clock having lugsthereon, means for operating said valve comprising a spring controlledlever actuated by said lugs, a latch for said lever and a trip for saidvalve actuated by the timingI mechanism of the clock.

9. The combination of a lamp, a valve, a clock provided with amainspring and timing mechanism, a main-spring wheel in said clockhaving lugs thereon, a spring controlled lever ladapted to be actuatedby said lugs to set the valve, a latch for the lever, a trip for thelatch actuated by the timing mechanism of the clock, and a trip for thevalve also operated by the timing mechanism of the clock.

10. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, operating meanstherefor, a clock, means to transmit power directly from the main springof the clock to actuate the valve operating means comprising a leverprovided with a dog and an actuating segment operatively engaging saiddog, said segment bein operated by the mainspring wheel of the clock.

11. The combination of a valve, opening mechanism for the valve, saidmechanism including a dog, an actuating segment therefor, and a tumbleror guard segment adapted to register with the actuating segment andprevent the engagement of the rst named segment and dog except at theproper time, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, and means for openingsaid valve comprising a clock, a lever provided with a dog, a segmentactuated by the main spring of the clock adapted to be engagedoperatively by the dog, and a tumbler to prevent engagement of the dogand segment when said segment is being actuated by the clock.

13. The combination of a valve, a clock, opening mechanism for the valveactuated by the clock, said mechanism having a dog, an actuating segmentwith a recess for the dog to engage, and a guard segment or tumbler alsohaving a recess, both segments being of the same size and pivoted at thesame point and the recess therein registering when the segments are atrest.

111. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, a lever, a motor forsetting the lever, means to trip the lever to open the valve, and meansindependent of the lever to hold the valve in its open position.

15. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, a lever for opening thevalve, a detent independent of the lever to hold the valve in its openposition, a motor for setting said lever, and means for tripping thedetent and the lever respectively at a predetermined time.

16. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, a spring lever foropening the valve, a motor for setting said lever, a latch to hold saidlever in its set position, a detent independent of the lever to hold thevalve in its open position, and means for tripping said valve and leverrespectively at a predetermined time.

17. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a lamp provided with a mainburner and a secondary burner, a source of supply, a valve arrangedbetween the lamp and supply having a vertically movable plug havingpassages therethrough to the main and secondary burners, a verticallymovable member operating against the lower end of the valve plug andcentrally thereof and means for actuating said valve at a predeterminedtime.

18. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a lamp provided with a main and asecondary burner, a motor, a source of supply, a valve arranged betweenthe lamp and supply, having a vertically movable plug provided withpassages therethrough yto the main burner and to the secondary burner, avertically movable member actuated by the motor adapted to raise thevalve plug and acting along a line passing through its center ofgravity, and a time device for controlling the operation of said valve.

19. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, the combination of a lamp, amotor, a source of supply, a valve between the lamp and supplycomprising va reservoir containing mercury forming the valve seat and avalve plug, and means for moving said valve plug vertically comprising arod having a cap adapted to remain submerged in the mercury, said capoperating against the bottom of the plug and in a vertical plane passingtherethrough and means for actuating the valve at a predetermined time.

20. In a time lamp lighting mechanism the combination of a lampa sourceof su ply, and a valve controlling the supply source, operating meanstherefor, a power train mechanism for operating the valve operatingmeans in one direction by the power end of the train, a valve trippingmechanism and mechanism operated by another part of said train for theactuating of said tripping mechanism, substantially as described.

This speciiication signed and witnessed this 19th day of October A. D.,1904.

MARVIN W. LEWIS.

In the presence of- E. L. SULLIVAN, GEO. F. SAMsoN.

